Chapter 11

The car stopped in front of the hotel where they were staying. As Zhiyi was about to get out, she turned to say goodnight to the man beside her. Before she could say “goodnight,” Jiang Sixun was already out of the car.

The accompanying bodyguards retrieved both his and her suitcases from the trunk.

Zhiyi hurriedly got out of the car and called out across the top of the vehicle, “Mr. Jiang, aren’t you going home to stay?

“Wherever you stay, it’s the same. The hotel is convenient.”

After checking in, the secretary handed Jiang Sixun the room key card and gave Zhiyi one as well. Both rooms were on the same floor with a view.

The benefits of being “biological” siblings were evident at this moment; even the secretary thought it was perfectly normal for their rooms to be diagonally opposite each other.

In the elevator, it was just the two of them. Zhiyi silently stared at the elevator buttons.

Jiang Sixun glanced at her and reminded, “You don’t need to wake up early; the meeting is tomorrow afternoon.”

Even if she wanted to wake up early, she couldn’t; it was already past 3 AM.

Jiang Sixun then asked, “Do you want the hotel to send food to your room for lunch tomorrow, or would you like to join me downstairs at the restaurant?”

Zhiyi responded according to her preference, “I’ll join you downstairs.”

Jiang Sixun nodded, acknowledging her choice.

Back in her room, Zhiyi took out her pajamas and went to shower.

After drying her hair and coming out of the bathroom, it was nearly 4 AM. Feeling wide awake, she put on a bathrobe over her nightgown and went out to the balcony, which overlooked the Thames River. There was a fruit platter and some fresh desserts on the wooden table outside.

Not eating anything, she poured herself a glass of plain water.

Only then did Zhiyi check her phone. Half an hour earlier, Xu Xiangyi had asked if she had landed.

【Dad, I’ve arrived.】

Xu Xiangyi, back at their home in Shanghai, replied: 【Then go to bed early.】

He had managed to catch a nap on the flight back, barely holding on, as he had a meeting with a lawyer scheduled for the afternoon at his office.

As he was about to leave with his suit, He Yian stopped him.

“You haven’t had proper rest for days. Even an iron man can’t keep going. Don’t you want to spend more time with Zhiyi? How can you do that if you’re not healthy?”

The latter part of the statement struck a nerve with Xu Xiangyi, making the idea of going to the office less appealing.

He put down his coat and checked his watch. “I’ll sleep for three hours. Wake me at 2 AM.”

“Alright, sleep well.”

He Yian, who hadn’t adjusted to the time difference, took a hot bath, and after changing into formal attire, she used the perfume Zhiyi had gifted her, applying a little on her wrist to enjoy its scent.

Twenty years later, the perfume still had the same formula.

Upstairs in Xu Ningwei’s room, the housekeeper knocked and asked what she wanted for lunch.

She snapped out of her thoughts. “I’m not hungry; I ate on the plane.”

“And the fruit and desserts?”

“Anything is fine.”

Xu Ningwei told the housekeeper to close the door, wanting some alone time to collect her thoughts.

During the flight, He Yian had a lengthy phone call with a well-known designer. Now that the designer was coming to her home, she wondered who would be getting their room designed. Her biggest mistake had been rushing to Manhattan when she learned about the mix-up, which inadvertently gave her parents and Zhiyi more time together.

She had previously assumed that once her parents’ guilt faded, they might not bring Zhiyi back. She now realized how wrong she was; their guilt towards Zhiyi didn’t lessen with time but rather increased as Zhiyi enjoyed being pampered at home.

If, when the paternity test results first came out, she hadn’t cried and begged for more time but had willingly returned to her biological parents, all her parents’ guilt would have been directed at her instead of Zhiyi.

She was certain her parents still loved her, given the twenty years of affection that couldn’t vanish in just half a month.

Lying on the pillow, she felt more at ease after some reflection.

After lying down for too long, she grew tired and turned onto her side. Her gaze fell on the photo frame on the nightstand, a recent photo of her and He Yian from last month. Every year, she and her mother would have several mother-daughter photo shoots.

When she was younger, they would have family photos every year to document her growth.

Her parents’ study, especially her father’s office, was filled with her pictures on the desk and bookshelves.

Xu Ningwei picked up the photo frame from the nightstand. The past feelings were genuine, and she truly loved her parents. Why should she feel guilty?

“Ningwei?” He Yian knocked on the door, “Time to eat.”

“Coming.” Xu Ningwei glanced at the time and realized it was already noon.

He Yian waited at the door while she linked arms with her mother and went downstairs. After some thought, she decided, “Mom,” she turned to face her, “you should bring Zhiyi back soon. It was my fault before, being too headstrong and making things difficult for you and Dad.”

He Yian gently stroked her adopted daughter’s hand and smiled softly. “It’s alright.”

At the Thames Riverbank, Zhiyi had drunk two glasses of water but still felt no drowsiness.

By the time she was finally tired enough to sleep, the sun had already risen.

Fortunately, she didn’t have to work in the morning. She pulled down the blackout curtains, took an eye mask from her bag, and nestled under the covers to catch up on sleep.

She slept for less than four hours before being woken by a phone call from an unfamiliar number.

The caller claimed to be Lu Jianbo’s assistant, saying that Lu Dong was in the hotel’s second-floor café and asked if she could join him for a coffee.

Lu Jianbo was the founder of Yuanwei Capital.

Zhiyi took a few seconds to respond, “Yes, I’m available. Please wait for twenty minutes.”

Lu Jianbo’s request was probably related to Jiang Sixun.

She got out of bed, quickly washed up, and changed clothes, skipping makeup. She left the room at the sixteenth minute.

Jiang Sixun was likely still asleep, so she didn’t disturb him. Instead, she went to find his bodyguard, explained the situation, and asked him to accompany her.

She had never met Lu Jianbo and couldn’t be sure if it was really him, so safety was a priority.

Arriving at the second-floor café, the bodyguard recognized Lu Jianbo from a distance. “It’s Mr. Lu.”

“Alright, thanks.”

Zhiyi then felt reassured and approached.

Lu Jianbo was dressed in a suit, with a stack of unknown documents spread out in front of him, drinking coffee. The elegance and sophistication he exuded were reminiscent of Jiang Sixun.

“Mr. Lu.”

The person looking at the documents raised his head.

“Just call me Uncle Lu,” Lu Jianbo said, gesturing for her to sit. “I’m quite familiar with your father.”

“You know who I am?”

“Well, you can’t be my daughter; I wouldn’t have a daughter as beautiful as you.”

Zhiyi smiled, surprised at his good Mandarin and humorous demeanor. He complimented her effortlessly.

Lu Jianbo closed the documents and ordered another coffee.

Rumors had it that he had a daughter who had just been found. He knew whether or not there were children outside of his family. But having his son bring her around and publicly claim her as his sister meant their relationship was far from ordinary.

A little investigation revealed that she was Xu Xiangyi’s daughter. The mix-up was connected to him; years ago, He Yian gave birth in Hong Kong, and as a friend of Xu Xiangyi and his wife, Lu Jianbo had arranged the hospital and doctor. Who could have anticipated the mistake?

He had recently visited the hospital, now under Lu’s family’s management. He asked around, and the responsible person claimed it was an accident.

He might be naturally suspicious, but he didn’t believe it was merely an accident. Still, with twenty years having passed, there was no way to investigate further.

Even if it was an accident, he felt deeply guilty.

“I met your father through a project, and we became close. I also met my ex-wife because of your father.”

The Jiang family and Xu family were old friends in Beijing. Lu Jianbo had met Jiang Sixun’s mother through Xu Xiangyi. Their romance lasted only five or six years before it ended abruptly. He had an affair, and his ex-wife, upon finding out, didn’t cause a scene but packed her things and left for Beijing with their child after spending a whole night in the living room.

That marriage, which was opposed by her family and lacked a wedding, ended in divorce, and they had not kept in touch since.

She had said she never wanted to see him again.

At that time, Jiang Sixun was only two years old and had barely experienced familial warmth.

Recalling the past, Lu Jianbo said, “Your father was our matchmaker.”

After their divorce, Xu Xiangyi felt immense guilt and had once said in front of Lu Jianbo that he regretted introducing Jiang Sixun’s mother to him.

During the years he missed in his son’s upbringing, Xu Xiangyi had taken good care of Jiang Sixun.

When his son was extremely rebellious during his teenage years and no one at home could manage him, Xu Xiangyi had transferred Jiang Sixun to study in Shanghai and personally educated him.

No wonder her father wanted her to treat Jiang Sixun as a real brother; there was such a background.

Lu Jianbo said, “Emotionally, you do count as Jiang Sixun’s real sister.”

Today, besides seeing an old friend’s child, he had another task for her. He placed the documents in front of Zhiyi.

It was all in English. Zhiyi glanced through it. “What’s this?”

Lu Jianbo replied, “It’s an internal risk assessment for the offshore wind power project you’re investing in. Please show it to Jiang Sixun and persuade him not to be too ambitious. Greed can lead to downfall.”

He had advised Jiang Sixun before, but Jiang Sixun had ignored him and deliberately opposed his suggestions.

“With a maximum of 10% equity, he’s now aiming for 23%. Even with cooperation from the Xiao Ning Group and their support, the risks are still too high. There are some policy-related risks that even Xiao Ning, a local company, cannot counter, let alone Yuanwei, so it must be considered carefully.”

“You’re close to Jiang Sixun. He might listen to you.”

Zhiyi thought to herself that she didn’t have that much influence.

In the time it took to drink a cup of coffee, Lu Jianbo concluded the meeting. “Send my regards to your parents.”

After parting with Lu Jianbo, Zhiyi took the documents upstairs. These were more confidential than what Jiang Sixun had shown her. She began analyzing them in her room until Jiang Sixun called and asked her to join him for a meal.

He was waiting in the elevator, casually looking at the clock tower outside.

Upon hearing her footsteps, Jiang Sixun turned around.

Zhiyi’s first words were, “Mr. Lu came to see me this morning.”

“I heard,” Jiang Sixun said, pressing the elevator button.

Zhiyi then took the risk assessment documents out of her bag and handed them to him.

Jiang Sixun casually flipped through a few pages. “Have you read it?”

“Yes.”

“What do you think after reading it?”

“Before I decided to persuade him, I thought his suggestion had merit. A 23% stake is too risky and uncontrollable. It’s better to consider it carefully.”

He was already aware of the risks. Jiang Sixun smiled, his voice unusually gentle. “Alright, I’ll reconsider and give you a response tomorrow.”

Zhiyi’s preparations for persuasion went to waste, as none of them were needed.

During the meal, Zhiyi didn’t force conversation and ate quietly.

From the corner of her eye, she noticed his long fingers. Since he had an important meeting with the Xiao Ning Group in the afternoon, he wore a dark blue French-cuffed shirt, which looked understated and composed.

Seeing her water glass nearly empty, Jiang Sixun set down his fork and refilled her glass.

“After this project ends, you should spend some time in the fundraising department, aiming to cover fundraising, investment, and management before you graduate.”

Zhiyi looked up at him. “Can I stay at Yuanwei?”

“With your qualifications and abilities, of course, there’s no problem,” Jiang Sixun placed the water glass by her hand. “Aren’t you going to Lingjia after graduation?”

Lingjia Capital was run by her biological father, Xu Xiangyi. She showed no hesitation. “I’d prefer to stay at Yuanwei.” The reason for not going to Lingjia, though, might seem a bit flimsy to outsiders. “I’m a bit scared of my dad. The pressure at Lingjia would be especially high.”

And she wouldn’t feel any sense of achievement in anything she did there.

Jiang Sixun analyzed the pros and cons for her. Although there was high pressure at Lingjia, with Uncle Xu personally guiding her, she would quickly be able to handle things on her own. “Uncle Xu’s experience is unmatched in the industry.

Zhiyi didn’t waver. “I’m not considering going to Lingjia for now.” After a moment of hesitation, she asked, “Could you be my mentor when the time comes?”

After asking, she instinctively held her breath.

Jiang Sixun replied, “Yes.”

Zhiyi expressed her gratitude. “Thank you, Mr. Jiang.”

After the meal and a short rest, they headed to Xiao Ning Group at 1:30 p.m.

Zhiyi was very clear about keeping work and personal matters separate and took Luna’s car.

Regarding the risks of the project, Jiang Sixun had given it deep thought over lunch and had made a decision. He didn’t need to wait until tomorrow and gave Lu Jianbo his answer on the way to Xiao Ning Group.

“I’ve decided to take a 12% stake.”

Instead of making a call, he sent a voice message.

It wasn’t the 10% Lu Jianbo had suggested, nor the 23% Jiang Sixun had initially insisted on.

The rebellious son was willing to compromise by eleven percentage points, which pleased Lu Jianbo considerably.

Lu Jianbo was reviewing the auction items for the afternoon, his gaze lingering on a set of rare jewelry. He handed the tablet to his assistant. “Have someone bid on this.”

At 4 p.m., Ning Yun received a call from her secretary at the auction site, saying that Lu Jianbo was also interested in the set of jewelry she had her eye on. It seemed Lu Jianbo was determined to win it. The secretary asked if she wanted to increase her bid.

Ning Yun was incredulous. “Lu Jianbo is buying jewelry?”

“Yes. I asked around, and his people said it was for his child at home, to be used as a dowry in the future.”

It was clear that this was undoubtedly intended as a gift for Zhiyi.

The secretary was puzzled. “I haven’t heard of Lu Jianbo bringing any outside child back to the family.”

Ning Yun replied, “That’s not important. Jiang Sixun’s surname is Jiang; it doesn’t affect his inheritance of Lu Jianbo’s assets. Whether the Lu family recognizes Zhiyi or not is irrelevant. What matters is that Lu Jianbo is willing to offer it from his heart.”

She added, “Let them have the jewelry. I’ll take it as a gift for my future sister-in-law.”

Ning Yun confirmed that Jiang Sixun’s meeting would end around five, which was almost the same time. She took the gift she had prepared for Zhiyi and headed to the hotel.

It was interesting that these siblings had a home in London but stayed in a hotel.

The hotel, located by the Thames River, was under Xiao Ning Group. Passing by the front desk, Ning Yun inquired if Lu Jianbo had ever stayed there.

The front desk staff remembered clearly, “He came this morning and waited for half an hour.”

Half an hour? Ning Yun clicked her tongue.

Lu Jianbo was the most unruly among his four sons. In his younger years, he was rebellious and wouldn’t wait for anyone. He wouldn’t wait even for three minutes.

Thirty years later, he was now eager to please his children.

Jiang Sixun had been reluctant to take over Yuanwei Capital initially. Lu Jianbo, having no choice, lowered his stance, offering planes and shares, and even used intermediaries to appeal to emotions. Only then did Jiang Sixun reluctantly join Yuanwei.

Once at Yuanwei, Jiang Sixun had constantly opposed Lu Jianbo.

Despite this, Lu Jianbo was still eager to visit the hotel.

The front desk staff brought Ning Yun a glass of warm water. She waited in the lobby for Jiang Sixun and the girl she was curious about.

Within ten minutes, they returned.

Ning Yun’s attention was entirely focused on the beautiful girl next to Jiang Sixun, not on Jiang Sixun himself.

Jiang Sixun was surprised. “What are you doing here?”

“To follow you,” Ning Yun replied with a smile, her gaze returning to Zhiyi. “Zhiyi? I’m Ning Yun, but you can call me Auraro or Ning Yun.”

Having finally met the young lady from the Ning family who had invited them for afternoon tea, Zhiyi found her bright and striking. With makeup enhancing her features, she was both glamorous and sensual. Zhiyi smiled faintly. “Nice to meet you. Thank you for the afternoon teas.”

Ning Yun was in high spirits. “You knew it was me?”

“Yes. The coffee was good, and the desserts were delicious.”

“I’m glad you liked them. I’ll continue to treat you,” Ning Yun said, presenting the gift. “This is a small token for our first meeting.”

Not wanting to appear ungrateful, Zhiyi accepted the gift as if handling a hot potato.

Jiang Sixun took it. “Thank you.”

Ning Yun said, “Don’t be so formal with me.” She gestured toward the second floor. “Let’s go have some coffee and think about where to eat tonight.”

Zhiyi didn’t want to be a third wheel, so she made an excuse. “You two catch up. I’ll go back to my room and work on the project materials with Luna.”

Jiang Sixun looked at her. “Put work aside for now. Auraro came here specifically to see you. Let’s have dinner together tonight.”

The three of them went to the coffee shop upstairs. Jiang Sixun remembered that she liked half a sugar in her coffee.

She sipped her coffee silently, trying to minimize her presence.

Ning Yun asked Jiang Sixun if his grandfather had seen him this afternoon.

Jiang Sixun replied, “Mr. Ning invited me to his office for a cup of black tea.”

Ning Yun said that her grandfather hadn’t been to the company much in the past two years and had been waiting specifically for him. She guessed that her grandfather might have urged them to make decisions soon. “Did he suggest we settle things quickly?”

Jiang Sixun replied, “That’s about the gist of it.”

Ning Yun took a sip of her coffee. “Why is Grandpa in such a hurry? We’re bound to get married sooner or later. Why rush into things so early?”

Zhiyi sat beside Jiang Sixun, trying to keep her face turned away and only glancing at him occasionally. She had thought Ning Yun was just one of his many admirers, but it turned out that the families were planning a marriage alliance.

She turned her head and pretended to admire the view outside, watching the last rays of sunset disappear over the Thames.

After finishing their coffee, they chose a nearby seafood restaurant for dinner.

At the table for four, Jiang Sixun took his seat, and Ning Yun naturally sat opposite him.

She shouldn’t have come as the third wheel.

“Zhiyi.” Jiang Sixun pulled out the chair next to him, indicating for her to sit there.

Zhiyi simply placed her bag on the chair next to him and sat down next to Ning Yun.

Jiang Sixun looked at her. “Why are you sitting over there?